Twenty-three (23) people in Oyo State have been sentenced to four months imprisonment or a fine option of N10,000 for violating environmental laws.

This is in line with Environmental Sanitation regulations of 2013 and the Oyo State Waste Management Authority laws of 2004.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday said that the offenders were apprehended while dumping refuse indiscriminately at different locations in Ibadan.

Arulogun said that they were arrested at Monatan, Oremeji, Sango, Alakia and Adegbayi in Ibadan and subsequently arraigned on Thursday before Senior Magistrate 2, Giwa Babalola at Magistrate court 18, situated at the premises of Oyo Waste Management Authority, Agodi Gate.

The offenders were arraigned on a two count charge of indiscriminate dumping of refuse and their refusal to engage waste collectors. Each offence attracts a fine of N5000 or two months imprisonment.

Speaking, the Chief Environmental Health Officer in the State, Mr. Oni Kolawole reiterated that the state government had zero tolerance for unlawful dumping of refuse, noting that only OYOWMA or its agents were mandated to collect refuse in the State.